The Disarmament Impact Group is an expert forum that seeks to promote dialogue, shared knowledge and the pursuit of concrete opportunities to advance gender-responsive action within disarmament processes.

The group is currently co-chaired by Robin Geiss, Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta, Permanent Representative of Philippines to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Amanda Gorely, Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations Office in Geneva and to the Conference on Disarmament, Ambassador Julia Imene-Chanduru, Permanent Representative of Namibia to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva, and Ambassador Noel White, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva.

CONTEXT

The United Nations and its Member States on several occasions have acknowledged the gendered impacts of armed violence and the importance of incorporating the perspectives of women in disarmament negotiations and peacebuilding programmes. With the establishment of the Women, Peace and Security agenda (2000), as well as the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2015), gender goals, perspectives and concerns are more consistently and comprehensively included in national policies, multilateral resolutions and international agreements.

The disarmament field has also addressed gender concerns. The issue is regularly raised in policy debates in various multilateral forums, such as the UN General Assembly's First Committee, which has approved resolutions on the topic of “women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control”. The integration of gender responsive approaches into disarmament policies and mechanisms needs to be concretised to highlight the diverse security needs of all genders.

The Disarmament Impact Group seeks to support the disarmament community in translating gender awareness into practical action across the range of multilateral disarmament processes and activities.

OBJECTIVES

Building awareness about the relevance of gender perspectives in arms control and disarmament
Conducting research and communicating successful stories
Bridging disarmament and gender equality frameworks

ACTIVITIES

The Disarmament Impact Group has organised several events and also developed resources to promote gender equality, inclusion and diversity across arms control and disarmament fora.

The Gender and Disarmament Resource Pack

Each year, the Disarmament Impact Group publishes an updated resource pack for multilateral practitioners on gender and disarmament. ‘The Gender & Disarmament Resource Pack’ includes basic information on gender equality and its relevance to arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament, in addition to practical ideas that can support diplomats in applying a gender lens to their work.

NPT Working Paper 2023

The Impact Group in collaboration with several member states coordinated the submission of a working paper to the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The paper titled, ‘Taking forward gender mainstreaming efforts in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty’ explored practical ways to promote gender analysis and to support women’s participation and leadership across all pillars of the NPT: nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament, and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Factsheet on Gender and Diversity in the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM)

In September 2023, the Impact Group along with the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarians Demining (GICHD) launched the updated version of the factsheet on Gender and Diversity in the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). The factsheet offered information about the gendered impacts of cluster munitions remnants and the importance of incorporating gender and diversity considerations in the implementation of the CCM.

Factsheet on Gender and Biological Weapons

In 2021, the Impact Group launched a factsheet on Gender and Biological Weapons. This resource outlines the state of gender balance in the biological weapons regime, including an analysis of women’s participation in multilateral meetings, as well as potential sex-specific and gendered impacts of biological weapons. This resource offers recommendations to promote gender equality and to mainstream gender perspectives in the implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention.

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and Gender Equality

The factsheet on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and Gender Equality prepared in collaboration with Control Arms was created to provide data on small arms and its intersection with gender-based violence. The factsheet proposed actions that State Parties can take to address these issues including within the context of the ATT.

Gender and Disarmament Online Hub by UNIDIR

In 2023, UNIDIR upgraded its Gender and Disarmament Online Hub by adding new visuals and the latest data on gender balance and gender perspectives in arms control and disarmament processes. The Online Hub offers ideas for Gender Champions on how to address the gender dimensions of international security affairs.